Indiana 40K Championship

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Sunday, December 29, 2013

With the year drawing to a close it's time to look ahead at what 2014 holds for 40K. BoLS has a tentative schedule up. Considering the speed with which GW has been releasing everything lately, we might be in for another excellent year of releases and major shakeups in the game.

BoLS put up this schedule:

Warhammer 40,000:

Five 40k books minimum, more if they can be fit in:

TyranidsImperial GuardOrksSpace WolvesDark Eldar------------------ the "if they can fit them in line"Blood AngelsNecronsGrey KnightsThis basically brings everything up to 6th ed that really needs it. We know Tyranids are coming out in a few weeks. There will likely be a few Fantasy releases sprinkled in between the 40K releases. Imperial Guard is rumored to be coming in March (yay!). After that, Orks are in dire need of an update. It will be weird seeing Dark Eldar get another update without having to wait a decade :) Necrons and Grey Knights are still very competitive so I would imagine they will be further down the line. My beloved Blood Angels are also in need of a fresh book. Maybe this time around their unique unit will not be given over to marines at large! I'm not sure what other units they can come up with but an overall point reduction will do wonders and Death Company need to be a viable choice. What releases and order of releases would you guys like to see in 2014?

From the release description:The individual known as Cypher is one of the greatest mysteries in the war-torn future. His motives and methods are inscrutable. The few who even know of his existence are unsure if he Mankind’s bitterest enemy, or a lost pilgrim seeking atonement. Cypher is a being wrapped in shadow, an entity whose every move is cloaked in mystery. The Dark Angels have sought out Cypher since the fall of Caliban – their old homeworld. Over those many millennia, they have caught up with their quarry many times, but each time Cypher has inexplicably eluded them.

Rumours and legends about Cypher follow wherever he appears – and that can be anywhere across the galaxy. He has been sighted in each of the Imperium’s five segmentum, materialising as if from nowhere. Wherever he surfaces, he brings with him death and destruction, although whether he is the culprit or merely a herald of woe is often unclear. And wherever Cypher turns up, more of the mysterious Fallen Dark Angels are sure to follow.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Warlords of the Dark Millennium: Vulkan He’stan takes a closer look upon the Forgefather of the Salamanders Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes.

As Forgefather, it is Vulkan He’stan’s solemn duty to retrace the footsteps of the Salamander’s Primarch. It is a quest to seek and recover the nine technological relics forged by the mighty Primarch of old, and hidden throughout the galaxy for his progeny to find. For over 7,000 years, a single Forgefather at a time has been assigned the monumental task of searching for the powerful artefacts. Over those millennia, five of the items have been recovered – including one by Vulkan He’stan himself. http://www.blacklibrary.com/games-workshop-digital-editions/Vulkan-Hestan.html

Games Workshop keeps cranking out the digital releases. This time Dante of the Blood Angels gets some attention:

Warlords of the Dark Millennium: Dante $3.99

All fear the Angel of Death! Lord Commander Dante – the Bringer of Sanguinius’ Light – rules over the storied Blood Angels Space Marine Chapter. Even amongst the most honoured Imperial Commanders of the 41st Millennium, Dante is a living legend. His heroic service to the forces of the Imperium has lasted for well over a millennia. He is believed to be the longest serving loyalist Space Marine that exists outside of those interred within Dreadnoughts.

Now, with Warlords of the Dark Millennium: Dante, you can find out more about the origins, history and famous deeds of this noble champion of the Adeptus Astartes.

With only 10 days to go until Christmas, today's 15th title in the 2013 Digital Advent Calendar is a new installment in the Warlords of the Dark Millennium series that focuses on the Chapter Master of the Blood Angels.

This book is a great resource for Blood Angles fans. It chronicles Date's rise to Chapter Master, from his induction into the Blood Angles as a boy, through the many wars he has waged in defence of the Imperium to become the the iconic leader he is today.

The book also features some beautifully illustrated images of his weapons and wargear (master-crafted naturally, only the best for the Lord of Angels)

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Spartan Games just announced their January releases, and as expected, it is mostly focused on Firestorm Armada. These include the various patrol fleets. However, there is also an exciting new Dystopian Wars release with the Black Wolf mercenary sub getting its own mercenary fleet!

Check out the Black Wolf Naval Battle Group:

http://shop.spartangames.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DWEX14

There are some interesting ships here with small submarine tokens coming into play, corvettes, tiny flyers, support cruisers, and 'support skimmers'. Of course, the centerpiece is still the Black Wolf himself. It will be interesting to see how this fleet plays and stacks up against the current fleets out there.

The next primarch to be released for Horus Heresy is none other than Lorgar:

Reunited with the Emperor, and at the head of the Word Bearers Legion, Lorgar Aurelian conquered, not simply through stratagem, overmatching power or simple brute violence, but by the subtle craft of exaltation, liberation and example. In his literal interpretation of the meaning of the Great Crusade, however, he and his Legion strayed from the path that had been set out for them.

For his failings, Lorgar received only disdain, contempt and censure from his siblings and father. His greatest success, Monarchia, was rendered to dust and ashes at the command of the Emperor, who sought no worship from his son, only swift victories to hasten his works. With his beliefs shattered, anger and resentment set in and Lorgar began to secretly accept new, darker truths. Both betrayer and betrayed, it was he who would set the stage for the nightmare of the Horus Heresy.

Lorgar, designed by Edgar Skomorowski, is an incredibly detailed multi-part resin model armed with Illuminarum and clad in the Armour of the Word. The newest edition to our Horus Heresy Character Series, Lorgar stands atop a scenic base depicting ritualistic trappings and inscriptions.

Another excellent job by Forgeworld as we progress along the primarch release schedule. If only the Blood Angels weren't towards the end of the release scheudle...

Included within this brand new edition are profiles and rules for over 30 vehicles, from specialised variants of the mighty Land Raider to the heavily armed Thunderhawk Gunship, alongside extensive background material on the war machines of the Space Marines, their tactics and manufacture. The book includes Legacies of Glory, special upgrades that mark your vehicle as a truly ancient and honoured veteran of the wars that heralded the Age of the Imperium, rules for relic vehicles such as the Sicaran Battle Tank, and the vehicles used by the zealous Battle Sisters of the Adepta Sororitas, as well as those seconded to the service of the agents of the dreaded Inquisition.

In addition to this wealth of information, Imperial Armour Volume Two – Second Edition presents extensive details on the paint schemes and markings used by the Space Marines of the Adeptus Astartes. In order to use this book, you will need the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook and the relevant Codex for your army. To use certain units, you will need the Warhammer 40,000: Apocalypse expansion.

There is also a nice preview video to go along with it:

This appears to be quite the update to the rather ancient original second volume and brings everything up to date with 6th edition. If you're heavily invested into Imperial armies then this will be a good book to add to your collection.

Slick here again. The first of the new Tyranids pics have been sighted over on Bols. Those with the new Escalation book can try and spot the new minis in some of the dioramas in that book. Here is the one pic that Bols put up:

What do you guys think? Looks like some redesigned Tyranid Warriors! Expect the rumors and pics to start dropping faster as we get closer to January. What are you most looking forward to with the new release?

*Awards-Over $500 in prizes for: Best General, Second to one, Best Overall(includes paint scores 50% paint 50% battle score), Best Painted and Runner up, 3rd place, 4th place, Last Place, and other random prizes. (Pending on amount of players in the event)

*Top 8 will be invited to the 2014 Indiana 40k championship Grand Tournament in November of 2014.

*Best General will be imortilized as the first FrostyCon champion on the Trophy below and receive

free entry into the 40k championship tournament to crown the 2014 Champion and best player

in Indiana.

*Top 2 teams in the team tournament will split the pot for winnings.

*FAQ-We will use the current Nova FAQ.

*Missions-Missions will be posted via facebook, theback40k blog, and on the Gamerz website by January 2nd, 2014.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Slick here with our latest unboxing video. Today we have the Prussian Walze Ironclad for Dystopian Wars. This is another excellent model from Spartan Games! Lots of big chunks of resin goodness here with insane detail. If you're a fan of skirmish games and/or steampunk settings then you should really give this great game a chance. Let me know what you think!

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Recently I decided to expand my Dystopian Legions forces and what better way to do that than with the Walze Ironclad! Here is a work in progress pic of this might tank. As always, the quality of Spartan Games' resin sculpts is amazing. This is quite a heavy model with some solid chunks of resin. Let me know what you think of the paint job so far.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Hey all, here is an Eldar list I have been working on. 1 Farseer goes into each Guardian blob and the Warlock accompanies the Farseer with the Shard. I gave it a run against a Marine/Tau list and ended up doing pretty well, scoring max objectives and only losing about 200 points or so. Let me know what you think of the list.

The Deimos pattern is an early type of Vindicator used by the Space Marine Legions during the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy, although many are still operational in the service of Space Marine Chapters in the 41st Millennium. A powerful assault tank, the Vindicator's principal armament is a heavy-calibre demolisher cannon capable of shattering fortifications and breaching the armour plates of tanks with equal ease. It is invaluable in urban warfare as it can blast and shunt its way through barricades and obstacles, enabling troops following behind free passage through streets that might have otherwise swiftly degenerated into kill zones.

A variant of the Sicaran battle tank introduced towards the end of the Great Crusade, the Sicaran Venator is a purpose-built tank destroyer. It mounts the fearsome neutron laser system and the atomantic arc-reactors required to power it. The neutron laser is a formidable anti-armour weapon, and is capable of matching certain super-heavy class vehicles in firepower.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

The Primarch of the Iron Hands Legion, Ferrus Manus, Legion was a figure of legend amongst the peoples of his home world of Medusa, named by them ‘the Gorgon’ after the most ancient of mythic creatures. Ferrus was amongst the strongest of the Primarchs, dwarfing many of them in both strength and stature.

He was blessed of a physiology remarkable even amongst the Primarchs. His arms were sheathed in liquid metal, the result, so the legends of Medusa claim, of a battle fought against the mightiest of beasts on that world before he was re-united with the Emperor. His armour is as heavy and impenetrable as that of a super-heavy tank, yet he keeps both arms uncovered so that he might bring their full might to bear.

Ferrus Manus, designed by Simon Egan, is an amazingly detailed multi-part resin model armed with Forgebreaker and equipped with the Medusan Carapace. The latest edition to our Horus Heresy Character Series, Ferrus stands atop a scenic base depicting the carnage on Isstvan V. Available to pre-order now, this model will be despatched from Friday 8th November.

Forgeworld keeps knocking it out of the park with the Primarchs. Which Primarch are you looking forward to the most?

We had our inaugural Indiana 40K Championship this weekend and after several brutal matches Aarong Aleong emerged as the overall winner and is our 2013 Indiana 40K Player of the Year having won both TippCon and the 40K Championship!

Eldar and Tau in various incarnations made their presence felt at the tournament and dominated the standings. Two similar Grey Knight builds were also present with one placing 4th overall. Only one Necron player was on hand. Most armies featured allies of some sort with Eldar/Tau, Tau/Farsight, and Eldar/Dark Eldar to name a few. One Chaos Marine and one Codex Marine player were in attendance. Noticeably absent were Orks, Sisters, Imperial Guard, Tyranids, Space Wolves, Dark Angels, and Blood Angels. Among the popular armies there were several Wraithknights and Riptides which seemed to be on nearly every table.

We faced a few last minute setbacks with the event. First and foremost was a combination of several no-shows and some drops in the last few days leading up to the event due to work and/or family-related issues. This significantly impacted the field as our field of nearly thirty dropped to 12 the day of the event. Compounding matters were issues with the hotel 'owner' at our venue. I will not go into details but suffice it to say that the unprofessional manner in which this person acted resulted in two players choosing to no play through the event as they were extremely upset at being addressed in the manner they were by said 'owner.' I did not want to cancel the event after all of the work that was put into it, and the fact that we had players who drove from as many as 4 hours away and had booked rooms for the weekend. We decided to relocate to our local game store for day 2 as we will no longer patronize that hotel for any and all future events. Aside from these hiccups, everything ran rather smoothly.

I greatly appreciate everyone who made it out to the tournament and I really appreciate the great feedback from the players which we will use to improve future events. I also want to give a special mention to Torrent of Fire for setting up our tournament with the excellent event managed software as this helped eliminate tedious paperwork and made registration and pairings a snap. If you are not using Torrent of Fire for your events then you are really missing out! Speaking of ToF, click here for the final standings.

Also, a special shout out goes to Chris Vinton and Jesse Zischke for their help in promoting the event up in Michigan! We look forward to sending some Indiana players up for your events. Last but not least, thanks to Justin Ankeney for filling in as a ringer for a few rounds and Chris Keimig for coming in early and staying late to make sure the event could finish properly on Sunday!

With this year's IndyOpen, TippCon, and 40K Championship now in the books it is time to look forward to next year as the first full season of the Indiana tournament circuit will kick off with the inaugural FrostyCon early next year in Indianapolis. Stay tuned for details! Who will be the next to immortalize their name on the Indiana 40K Cup?

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Slick here with a final tournament update. Just as a reminder, earlier digital codex releases such as the Farsight codex and Black Legion are legal for this tournament this weekend. The latest Sisters digital codex release will not be allowed. We apologize if this inconveniences any Sisters players. The previous White Dwarf codex is still legal for this event.

In addition to the official GW faqs, we will also be using the Feast of Blades FAQ for this event.

In other news, we are partnering with Torrent of Fire for the tournament and should have the details for this available later this evening.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

GW just unveiled the newest codex to come out: Codex: Inquisition. From GW

Codex: InquisitionThis November, you will be able to download the brand new Codex: Inquisition.

A full codex, packed with background and artwork on the forces of the Imperium’s most secretive and powerful organization. You’ll soon be able to field an Inquisitor and their retinue in any Imperial army in games of Warhammer 40,000.

Slick here again. Spartan Games is really making a big push for Firestorm Armada with the release of a two-player starter set called Storm Zone: Battle for Valhalla. I'll let the pictures do the talking:

Be sure to head over to the Spartan Games site and get all the details for this gorgeous starter!

Slick here again after a long break. I apologize for not posting for a while but real life was intruding for a few weeks. We'll have several updates tonight including the remaining missions for the Indiana 40K Championship and some rulings so stay tuned!!!

Saturday, October 12, 2013

A development of the Riptide battlesuit, the Tau XV107 R’varna battlesuit sacrifices mobility for heavier armour and increased firepower in the form of two pulse submunitions cannon, experimental weapons systems which fire micro-cluster projectiles capable of saturating the target area in a deadly storm of plasma pulses.

The stoic Earth caste of Ke'lshan was almost forced to abandon its plans for developing the R'varna battlesuit due to the monumental cost of these new war engines. Instead Fio'O Ke'lshan Sho'Aun turned to the Ethereal Council's demands for improved stealth and infiltration units, appropriating resources intended for this project to create the initial prototype units under the guise of creating a new Stealth suit. Renewed Tyranid attacks against the beleaguered sept world of Ke'lshan were to reveal O'Sho'aun's deception to the Council, as the trio of prototype units held back the savage host of organic nightmares that threatened to engulf the Sept's primary city.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Fans of Uncharted Seas rejoice as Spartan has NOT forgotten about the game! The Sky Pirates are finally getting their remaining models and the ships look amazing! This release will provide a much needed shake up the Uncharted Seas meta. You can find the full selection on the Spartan Games online store. Take a look at the upcoming ships below:

Slick here again with the latest releases for Spartan Games. Dystopian Wars continues to expand with two more alliance nations receiving some new models. The Kingdom of Denmark and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth each receive a boxed set featuring some of the existing models mixed in with several new ones as well! As if that were not enough, Spartan Games is seriously expanding its available terrain for the game with two massive sets for Harbours and Airfields.

The Horus Heresy continues with book two - Massacre - set for release in a few short weeks! From Forgeworld:

Illustrated in full colour, The Horus Heresy Book Two - Massacre contains extensive background information on the dark deeds unleashed by the Traitor Legions upon their Loyalist brothers at the titanic battle of the Isstvan V Dropsite Massacre. Also within this book are detailed the histories of four new Legions which took part: the Iron Hands, Salamanders, Night Lords and Word Bearers, and an extensive campaign system so you can play out their battles on the tabletop. This 290 page book also includes additional entries for the Space Marine Legion Crusade Army list presented in The Horus Heresy Book One – Betrayal, as well as game rules for the Primarchs of the four newly described Legions, super-heavy vehicles and special characters featured in the story.

In addition, Kor Phaeron and Erebus are set for release at the same time as Massacre:

Erebus was once the High Chaplain of the Word Bearers and venerated the Emperor as a divine being. When the Emperor chastised the Word Bearers for worshipping him, Erebus’ drive for spiritual knowledge led him into the welcoming arms of the Ruinous Powers and through their guidance he planned the downfall of the Emperor and all he had wrought.

Along with Erebus, Kor Phaeron has the ear of his Primarch and, more than any other individual, is responsible for Lorgar’s nature as a seeker after the truth, wherever that may lie and whatever terrible secrets it might reveal.

The latest additions to our Horus Heresy Character Series, Erebus and Kor Phaeron, designed by Edgar Skomorowski, are two multi-part resin kits with two scenic bases that can be combined into a single scenic diorama. Each individual is resplendant with fine details, from the runic script carved upon Erebus' head to the intricate lightning claws of Kor Phaeron's armour.
Check out this video featuring Edgar Skomorowski discussing the creation of these epic miniatures:

If you have not tried this great game yet, you owe it to yourself to give it a try with a few buddies. The initial start up cost is very low, especially with Spartan Games' excellent starter boxes. Take the helm and command your fleet this December!

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Slick here again with the first mission for the upcoming Indiana 40K Championship taking place November 2-3. Click the link below and start practicing! We will unveil another mission on 10/11/13 so stay tuned.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Forgeworld has unveiled another big release with the Castellum Stronghold expansion for the Realm of Battle Board. Marine players rejoice as you have an epic defensive structure to battle over!

From Forgeworld:

When the situation calls for a prolonged deployment, Space Marines can rapidly construct modular fortified structures, known as Castellum Strongholds, to use as forward operating bases on a planet’s surface.

Designed by Blake Spence, the Realm of Battle Space Marine Castellum Stronghold is a 24" x 24" (609 mm x 609 mm) tile which can fit the Citadel Realm of Battle board. The model features areas that can accommodate Tarantula Sentry turrets, and its design allows several boards to be put together, expanding the size of the base.

Friday, September 20, 2013

ForgeWorld has unveiled a Riptide variant called the XV107 R'Varna! This model is simply awesome! From ForgeWorld:A development of the Riptide, the R’Varna sacrifices mobility for heavier armour and increased firepower in the form of two pulse submunition cannon.

This will surely not be the only variant they produce considering the popularity of the Riptide in the current 40K game. Hopefully some hints about the rules for it will leak soon. Will you add this amazing new suit to your army?

The Horus Heresy goodness continues with Ferrus Manus being the next primarch to be released!

From Forgeworld:

The Primarch of the Iron Hands Legion was a figure of legend amongst the peoples of his home world of Medusa, named by them ‘the Gorgon’ after the most ancient of mythic creatures. Ferrus was amongst the strongest of the Primarchs, reflected in this giant figure, dwarfing many of his brother Primarchs.

He will be available at GamesDay UK Sunday September 29th! Enjoy the preview pics below and head on over to the ForgeWorld site for more!